10 JUVENILES CHARGED WITH TRESPASSING IN WORTH TOWNSHIP CEMETERY

Wednesday, March 26, 2008 — Ten juveniles have been charged by Cook County Sheriff’s Police with trespassing in a Worth Township Cemetery after a passerby noticed a grass fire on the grounds Tuesday evening, according to the Office of Sheriff Thomas J. Dart.

A concerned citizen made a 911 call to Sheriff’s Police about 7:30 p.m. to report a grass fire and juveniles inside St. Casimir Cemetery, 4401 W. 111th St. The cemetery was already closed for the day.

A quick response by Sheriff’s Police led to the arrest of all 10 juveniles within a short time of the call. The offenders range in age from 11 to 16.

According to Sheriff’s Police detectives, the juveniles climbed the cemetery fence and went to an undeveloped parcel of property in the cemetery’s southwest corner where cattails and other dried grass were lit on fire. Due to the high winds Tuesday evening, the flames spread easily, prompting the call from the concerned citizen. The Chicago Fire Department was ultimately called to extinguish the fire.

Of the 10 juveniles caught, one 15-year-old was charged with criminal trespass to property and criminal damage to property by fire. The remaining nine were charged with criminal trespass to property. Due to their age, all 10 will be petitioned into Cook County Juvenile Court at a later date.